Mainair Blade

Last updated

Blade
Mainair blade ultralight g-mzbl kemble arp.jpg
Mainair Blade 582
Role Ultralight trike
National originUnited Kingdom
Manufacturer Mainair Sports
P&M Aviation
StatusProduction completed
Number built60 (February 2000)
Variants Mainair Rapier

The Mainair Blade is a British ultralight trike that was designed and produced by Mainair Sports and later P&M Aviation. The aircraft was supplied as a completed aircraft. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

In the early 2000s Mainair was merged with rival Pegasus Aviation into P&M Aviation, but production of the Blade continued. As the company rationalized the two aircraft lines, Blade production ended. By 2012 the manufacturer indicated, "This aircraft is no longer in production...Full spares and support are still available and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Complete aircraft can still be manufactured but by special request only." [2] [4]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed as a high-end touring trike, to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb) and is also certified to comply with UK BCAR Section "S". The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 390 kg (860 lb). It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. [1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with its double-surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.6 m (34.8 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. The occupants are accommodated in tandem seating, with a fibreglass cockpit fairing that includes a small windshield. Engines factory supplied include the 37 kW (50 hp) Rotax 503 twin cylinder, two-stroke, air cooled powerplant as well as the twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid cooled 48 kW (64 hp) Rotax 582 and the four cylinder, four-stroke 60 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912UL and 74.5 kW (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS. [1] [2]

Operational history

Blades have been used for a number of microlight record distance flights, including a flight to Australia by Colin Bodill and Simon Reeve and a flight around the world by Bodhill. [2]

The Blade 912 set the record for London to Sydney by microlight of 49 days (175 hours of flying) at an average speed of 124 km/h (77 mph). [3]

Variants

Blade 582
Version powered by a 48 kW (64 hp) Rotax 582 engine. Price in 2003 was £16,450. [2]
Blade 912
Version powered by a 60 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912UL or the 74.5 kW (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS. In 2003 it was reported that the Blade 912 accounted for the majority of customer orders. Price in 2003 was £21,800. [2]

Specifications (Blade 912)

Data from Bertrand and Kitplanes [2] [3]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

The Rainbow Aerotrike is a family of South African two-seat ultralight trikes, made by Rainbow Aircraft of Edenvale, Gauteng and available in kit form for amateur construction or fully assembled. The type has been noted for its long-distance flights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antares MA-32</span> Type of aircraft

The Antares MA-32 is the first model in a large family of Ukrainian ultralight trikes that is designed and produced by Antares Aircraft and at one time marketed by Leading Edge Air Foils as the LEAF Antares. The aircraft are supplied as kits for amateur construction.

The Mainair Rapier is a British ultralight trike that was designed and produced by Mainair Sports and later P&M Aviation. The aircraft was supplied as a completed aircraft or as a kit for amateur construction, followed by a factory inspection prior to flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pegasus Quantum</span> Type of aircraft

The Pegasus Quantum is a British two-seat, ultralight trike that was designed and produced by Pegasus Aviation and later by P&M Aviation. The aircraft was supplied as a completed aircraft.

The North Wing Apache is an American two-seat ultralight trike designed and produced by North Wing Design of East Wenatchee, Washington. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pegasus Quik</span> Type of aircraft

The Pegasus Quik is a British-designed ultralight trike, originally designed and produced by Pegasus Aviation, later by P&M Aviation, both of the United Kingdom. The design is now owned by Albatross Flying Systems of Bangalore, India. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Creation Tanarg</span> French ultralight trike

The Air Creation Tanarg is a French ultralight trike, designed and produced by Air Creation of Aubenas. The aircraft is supplied as complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. In the United Kingdom the Tanarg is amateur-built from kits supplied by Air Creation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Creation Skypper</span> French ultralight trike

The Air Creation Skypper is a French ultralight trike, designed and produced by Air Creation of Aubenas. The aircraft was introduced in 2011 and is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

The Apollo Delta Jet is a Hungarian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Apollo Ultralight Aircraft of Eger. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Apollo Monsoon is a Hungarian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Apollo Ultralight Aircraft of Eger. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The DTA Voyageur is a French ultralight trike, designed by Jean-Michel Dizier and produced by DTA sarl of Montélimar. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

The DTA Evolution is a French ultralight trike, designed and produced by DTA sarl of Montélimar. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Flying Machines FM301 Stream, is a Czech ultralight trike, designed by and produced by Flying Machines s.r.o. of Rasošky. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The General Aviation Design Bureau T-32 Maverick is a Ukrainian ultralight trike under development by the General Aviation Design Bureau of Ukraine, based in Kyiv. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The General Aviation Design Bureau T-2 Maverick is a Ukrainian ultralight trike, designed and produced by the General Aviation Design Bureau of Ukraine, based in Kyiv. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea and Sky Cygnet</span> American ultralight trike

The Sea and Sky Cygnet is an American amphibious ultralight trike that was designed by J.P. Krucker and initially produced by his company Krucker Manufacturing in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada and later by Sea and Sky of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Rossi Shuttle Quik is an Italian ultralight trike that was designed by Paolo Rossi and produced by Rossi Soavi Paolo of Camposanto. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as custom-built, ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Skyrider Stingray is a German ultralight trike, designed and produced by Skyrider Flugschule. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The P&M Explorer is a British ultralight trike that was designed and produced by P&M Aviation of Rochdale, Lancashire. Now out of production, when it was available it was supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

The Sunward STB is a Chinese amphibious ultralight trike, designed and produced by Sunward Tech of Zhuzhou. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-14. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 104. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN   1368-485X
  3. 1 2 3 Downey, Julia: 2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 46 and 47. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN   0891-1851
  4. ↑ P&M Aviation (n.d.). "The Mainair Blade" . Retrieved 18 January 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.